Coin Grading Books

Several of the best selling coin grading books are reviewed here,
without bias. You can access other titles and accessories by clicking
the "Coin Grading Resources" button on the upper right hand of this
page.

This book builds a solid foundation in coin
grading for the new
collector, but has little for experienced numismatists seeking to
advance their skills. Impressively, all United States coin types are
covered, which includes a specific set of photographs and detailed
instructions to measure the amount of wear and approximate a grade.
Hundreds of B&W photos and a few color, but none taken under high
magnification. Grading is more than just looking at wear, and the book
touches upon these concepts (e.g. die weakness), but there are no
supporting photos, leaving it to the imagination of the reader. Still,
the ANA Grading Standards is a building block upon which a
collector can reach greater heights. Available from Amazon
at a modest price.

The Publisher Says This...
"This comprehensive and easy-to-use guide provides the official
American Numismatic Association grading standards for every United
States coin minted since 1793. Beginners, advanced collectors, and
dealers will all find the text understandable and invaluable for
grading coins, both circulation strikes and Proofs. 351 pages
softbound."

... but here's
what we think:

Content Rating =

Explains the importance of grade as it relates to coin
value. This may seem obvious to collectors that have been around a
while, but to the novice, this may be something they've never heard
before.

Coin grading terminology is laid out on the table.

The evolution of grading standards is summarized, starting
in 1892, to the Sheldon 70-point scale, the ANACS grading service,
changing interpretations, and slabbed coins.

Good information, but there are no photos or illustrations to
complement the solid narrative, leaving the reader a bit unsure as to
what the book is attempting to describe. Demonstrative visual aids are
really called for here. Whoever invented the old saying "a picture is
worth a thousand words" may have had a situation like this in mind.

Interesting commentary on the topic of overgrading.

The history of proof coins is briefly explained, as well as
how they are made and graded. Again, no photos to illustrate the basic
points.

About 85% of the book is devoted to the specifics of
grading all US coin types minted since 1793, from Half Cents to Double
Eagles (there is a small section on commemoratives tossed in at the
very end of the book). Various grade examples, from AG-3 to Mint
State, for every coin type is photographed. Arrows point out the
location where the first traces of wear occur, both obverse and
reverse. This is perhaps the most useful aspect of the book. There are
detailed instructions on what is seen in the photos. For example, the
obverse of the Standing Liberty Quarter in F-12 condition is described
thusly: "Gown details are worn but show clearly across body. Right leg
is nearly flat and toe is worn. Breast is worn but some mail is
visible. Date may show some weakness at top. rim is full. Outer edge of
shield is nearly complete". Using this approach, even a beginner can
quickly catch on to the basics of coin grading.

There are not many photos of Mint State examples, only
written descriptions to differentiate between grades MS-60 through
MS-70.

The authors relied upon their vast experience in compiling
the "Notes" section at the end of every coin type presentation. This
information deals with specific characteristic traits to assist in
grading and value that are not directly associated with wear. For
example, the "Notes" section following Mercury Dimes includes this
tidbit: "Coins of this design are sometimes weakly struck in spots,
particularly at the facial hair line, and in the lines and horizontal
bands of the fasces", and this "1923: Often has the bottom of the 3
weakly struck and joined to the rim."

The book concludes with a fairly comprehensive glossary of
coin grading terms

SPR Rating =

The ANA Grading Standards is easy to use and
interpret, as far as learning about and understanding coin wear. Other
factors entering into the coin grading equation (e.g. contact marks)
are in the book but less obvious to the reader, and are not illustrated.

Not enough color photographs. There are 297 pages with
photos, but only 16 of these pages have color.

In a book devoted to coin grading, one might expect to see
many images taken under high magnification, to demonstrate key grading
concepts that are more easily visible when enlarged. There are none.
There should be photos to mimic what collectors are searching for under
a 5x or 10x loupe.

There is no index, and with no index, it is more difficult
to locate specific subject matter. The Table of Contents is of little
help in this regard.

(Please note this review was written for the
18th edition of
Photograde.)
Restricted versatility as a coin grading reference guide, basically
limited to assessing condition of circulated coins. To that end, Photograde
depicts approximately 1000 black and white coin photos, representing
the obverse and reverse of every major United States coin, in grades
ranging from About Good (AG-3) to About Uncirculated (AU-50). Very
little treatment of Uncirculated or Proof coins.

When Photograde first hit the market in 1970, it revolutionized
the approach to coin grading. Nowadays, its practical role is to serve
as a complement to some of the newer coin grading guides. Photograde
is readily available from Amazon at a reasonable cost.

The Publisher Says This...
"An essential reference for coin grading. Features more than 1,000 coin
photographs, many enlarged to show important details to help you
determine the grade of every series of U.S. coin in conditions from
About Good to Proof 70. Includes dictionary of grading terms and more.
224 pages softbound."

... but here's
what we think:

Content Rating =

Every major type of United States coin, beginning in 1793,
the first year of regular production, continuing through the 1950s, is
represented in Photograde.

Circulated conditions, ranging from About Good (AG-3) to
About Uncirculated (AU-50) are photographed for every coin type, both
obverse and reverse. State-of-the-art technology was employed at the
time the photos were taken, but this falls considerably short of our
capabilities today.

Chapter 1 adeptly defines the concept of coin grading,
encompassing numerical grades and other important considerations.

Chapters 2 and 3 relate the evolution of coin grading and
the advent of the commercial grading services.

A number of characteristics act as modifiers to a coin's
grade. Ruddy covers these aspects in moderate detail. Coloration,
toning, sharpness, and aesthetic appeal are just a few of the topics
raised in this regard.

No photos on MS Uncirculated coins. That is to say, an
important segment of today's coin market is omitted from the core
content of Photograde. There is scant treatment of Proof coins.
The usefulness of Photograde, then, is relegated to the grading
of coins in worn condition. The promo material indicates the book helps
determine grade up to Proof-70. Perhaps I'm overlooking something, but
as I browse through my copy, I can't find anything of substance to help
me grade anything beyond the 60 point level.

To close out the book, Ruddy dispenses advice on the
handling, storing, displaying, and retoning of coins. There's enough
information, albeit just barely, for the reader to become somewhat
familiar with these issues.

There are a few coin grading books in print today that
clearly outshine Photograde. There are quite a few USED
editions of Photograde available at Amazon, so if you can pick
up one for a few bucks, go for it That's what I did.

Photograde should NOT be your primary reference to
coin grading, but as a sidekick publication, used intermittently within
the boundaries of circulated coinage, it merits an OK.

SPR Rating =

Table of Contents announces 13 chapters. The chapter titles
are descriptive, with good sub-headings to help understand the book's
content.

The book's structure is designed well enough to function as
a quick reference guide.

The quality of the black and white photos is only "so-so",
when compared to our capabilities today. To be fair, the images in Photograde
are indeed helpful, and the accompanying descriptions are instructive.
That's why that after all these years, copies of Photograde are
still flying off the shelves.

Other than the coin photos, there are very few other visual
aids. This makes it more difficult to conceptualize some of the
advisory points (e.g. how to handle a coin), plus it's sorta boring to
read.

Remarkable reference on coin grading. All
crucial aspects of
determining a coin's grade are explored, presented in clear and concise
language. Nearly half of the book is consumed describing vital
information for grading individual series of US coins. Official Guide
to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection also provides tips on how to
spot fakes. The overall rating is held back, due to a large number of
black and white photos that fail to adequately spotlight the
imperfections pointed out by the authors. Still, we believe this is the
most valuable book available today on the topic of coin grading, well
worth the NEW price of under $10 at Amazon
.

The Publisher Says This...
"This is the second edition of an indispensable reference work for all
numismatists. Included in this work are precise descriptions and
digital images of grading standards used by PCGS (Professional Coin
Grading Service) graders. Each series of US coins is described in
detail. Also included is an all-new section on grading the U.S. State
Quarters. Other chapters provide the fundamentals of counterfeit
detection and side-by-side comparisons of oft-faked coins. Tips for
handling and storing your collection, and recognizing "doctored" coins
fill other chapters. 416 pages, softbound."

... but here's
what we think:

Content Rating =

The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) assembled the
numismatic grading experts required to produce Official Guide to Coin
Grading and Counterfeit Detection. It is indeed a marvelous work. In
1986, PCGS was one of the first (some will say THE first) to pioneer
the concept of a third party (i.e. neither a buyer or seller of coins)
grading service. That they remain in business today at the pinnacle of
the coin grading business bears strong witness to the credibility of
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection.

The primary objective of Official Guide to Coin Grading and
Counterfeit Detection is to publish a detailed account of coin grading
standards. The process of grading a coin and the techniques and nuances
employed in doing so are demystified. Also, strong emphasis placed on
spotting phony coins (counterfeits, alterations, etc.).

The attributes of coin grading -- marks, luster, strike,
toning, and eye appeal -- and other factors are introduced
superficially in Chapter 1. Subsequent chapters go on to closely
examine these attributes. Every conceivable term associated with the
art (or science?) of coin grading is explained in clear, concise
language.

The steps a coin passes through upon entering the PCGS
grading process are detailed. The universally respected PCGS grading
standards, based on the traditional 70 point scale, are outlined. For
instance, the differences between an MS-63 and MS-64 coins are spelled
out, in terms of marks, strike, luster, and eye appeal. In one of many
achievements, Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection
lifts the fog on one point differences separating Mint State coins.

Unfortunately, not many good photos accompany the excellent
written descriptions, and many of those that do fail to demonstrate the
conditions the PCGS authors are attempting to call attention to. Good
photos are central to the content of grading manuals, and because
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection stumbles
somewhat here, we can't award a Five-Star Content rating to this
otherwise deserving reference. For instance, the photos on page 12,
presented to illustrate the result of toning, do very little to convey
the message The photos accompanying the grading standard descriptions
(especially the Mint State stuff) are only marginally helpful.

Very fine section describing the various elements entering
into a coin's grade, and how these elements arrive at a composite
score. The interrelationship of these factors are complicated, but
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection does a superb
job dissecting each component, evaluating their impact on overall
grade. Very comprehensive, but not tedious or boring.

The heartbeat of the book is the grading guidelines for
individual coin series, from half cents through double eagles and
commemoratives. This includes an all-new section on the 50 state
quarter program. The framework for the guidelines are expressed in
terms of wear characteristics for circulated coins, and for Mint State
examples, the familiar marks, luster, strike, and eye appeal come into
play. Things to be on the watch for while grading Proofs are likewise
presented. This portion of the book is comprised of 200 pages (about
48% of the entire book).

Every coin type and metallic composition require unique
approaches to grading, and Official Guide to Coin Grading and
Counterfeit Detection does the best job I've ever seen to describe all
these crucial grade determinants. Many years of valuable grading
experience are condensed into the pages of this book.

The book is topped off by an 86 page section instructing
readers on how to recognize counterfeits and alterations. All the old
tricks are laid bare, exposed for all to see through magnified photos
of genuine and fake coins. Here, the photos achieve their intended
effect. Little escapes the gaze of PCGS experts.

Since the first edition of Official Guide to Coin Grading
and Counterfeit Detection was published in 1997, the book has risen to
become one of the most consulted numismatic references in the world (to
wit, the relatively high ranking on Amazon). The second edition,
published in 2004, is basically a compact retooling effort of the
first, to facilitate ease of transportation (as in coin shows).

After sifting through the pages of the ANA's copy of
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, I decided
this is one publication worthy of inclusion in my personal numismatic
library. The book's promoters boast that if a coin collector can afford
to purchase only one numismatic publication, then this should be it.
Given the criticality of grading and the high value of Official Guide
to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, this claim has some
validity.

SPR Rating =

The Table of Contents specifies the book's contents
concisely and effectively. Descriptive chapter titles with sub headings
allow the reader to spend only a minute or two to reasonably comprehend
the breadth of the material. The Index is equally useful.

Two print columns per page. Topics easily demarcated by
larger, bold headings. You won't get cross-eyed when you dive into this
book.

A 16 page center section, printed on glossy coated paper
stock, displays excellent color photos. Some of the photos were taken
under high magnification, utilizing superimposed arrows to highlight
described imperfections. These are highly conducive to understanding
the techniques of coin grading experts. Official Guide to Coin Grading
and Counterfeit Detection would have earned a Five-Star SPR rating had
more photos of this quality been included.

Overall the Style, Presentation, and Readability of
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection rate very
high. It is a superbly crafted reference.

Lately, the Rare Coin Values Index is behaving like it thinks its the Dow Jones. That would be an exaggeration of course, because the Index is not climbing at THAT meteoric pace, but it has now closed…